by Mark McKelvie, WEG Communications

Campbellville, ON — The annual Ontario Sired Autumn Series got underway Monday night (Oct. 10) at Mohawk Racetrack with 2-year-old pacing fillies squaring off.

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Sheer Talent was a 1:56.2 winner in the first leg of the Autumn Series.

Sheer Talent rallied from off the pace to defeat nine rivals in the $12,000 first leg for driver Jonathan Drury and trainer Carmen Auciello.

The lead changed hands several times during the early stages of Monday’s contest. Sports Leader, who was parked for three-eighths, finally cleared to the front ahead of Manhattan Play, the even-money favorite, and led the field by the half in :56.4.

Manhattan Play popped the pocket and circled back to command on the far turn to pace by three-quarters in 1:27. Sheer Talent, who got away eighth, got into the outer flow on the far turn and sat third-over, five lengths from the front turning for home.

Daenerys Hanover, who was first up at three-quarters, pressed at Manhattan Play in the lane, while Sports Leader was also in the mix. However, Sheer Talent had the most pace of any filly in the lane and rocketed by on the far outside to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:56.2. Daenerys Hanover finished second, while Sports Leader finished a half-length ahead of Manhattan Play for third.

A daughter of Badlands Hanover, Sheer Talent now has three wins in 10 starts this season. The rookie pacing filly was purchased for C$20,000 at last year’s Forest City Yearling Sale and has banked $22,594 in her first season for owner Robert Burgess. A $2 win ticket on Sheer Talent returned $8.

In order to be eligible to the Ontario Sired Autumn Series, the 2-year-old pacing fillies had to be non-winners of C$30,000 as of Sept. 30.

The rookie pacing fillies will meet up again next Monday (Oct. 17) for round two.

Autumn Series action continues Tuesday with two first round divisions for 2-year-old trotting fillies.